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The Institute for Economic Development's diverse programs facilitate economic, community and business development at the local, regional and national level. Click on a specific program for detailed information.

Sustainable Business Practices

In this section, reports and articles focus on sustainability in business. From the creation of green jobs to environmental accounting, these documents help business owners understand how they can incorporate sustainable practices into their organizations.

Documents

Using the most widely accepted definition of sustainability (â€˜meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needsâ€™), this report uses reliable data to assess the sustainability of the built environment. The report acknowledges the broadness and complexity of this topic and attempts to make it more understandable with the use of sustainability indicators and benchmarks that address environmental, social and economic factors.

This article argues that in the future entrepreneurs in the realm of sustainability will be the new 'wealth generators'. This is an area in which innovation will need to take place in order to preserve and protect the natural environment while also allowing for future development and economic growth. It is this belief that this paper explores in laying out a 'model of sustainability entrepreneurship' for the future.

This document presents the findings of a study which looked into over 400 business cleaning products decision makers based in the United States in three different industries. The study hoped to determine whether these decision makers placed importance on sustainability and environmental responsibility when selecting products. The presentation begins with some general conclusions drawn from the study before going on to more detailed findings.

This document contains the findings of part of a study conducted by the University of California â€“ Berkeley into what makes a green business different from one that is not green and focusing on the growth of such businesses at a regional scaleâ€”in this case looking at businesses in California. This report discusses the methodology of the study as well as defining what makes a business green before going into the results of the study in question.